Davis reflects on Game 2 heroics: 'It's part of legacy; I want those shots'
In the first conference finals series of his prodigious career, Los Angeles Lakers big man Anthony Davis reflected on his play in Game 2's 105-103 win against the Denver Nuggets - sealed by his game-winning 3-pointer as time expired.
"People talk about (me) never being in this moment (before) - the pressure, am I ready for it? I want to take those shots," the former No. 1 pick told TNT's Allie LaForce in an on-court interview postgame. "It's part of legacy; I want those shots, I want the big-time plays.
"We're going to live with me (and) die with me shooting the last, game-winning shots - and I made it. This is what they brought me here for, to make big-time plays."
Davis' heroics place him alongside six other Lakers who have capped a playoff victory with a buzzer-beater. The group includes a trio of franchise icons in Kobe Bryant, Jerry West, and Elgin Baylor, as well as venerated role players in Robert Horry, Derek Fisher, and Metta World Peace.
Fittingly, the Lakers were wearing their alternate "Black Mamba" jerseys in Sunday's win, a tribute to Bryant, who died in a helicopter crash on Jan. 26.
Of the symbolism, Davis said: "(We) never want to lose in these jerseys. We never want to lose at all."
Lakers head coach Frank Vogel concurred with his star big man.
"We want to embody what Kobe Bryant stood for and honor his memory," Vogel told reporters postgame. "Obviously there are certain games where we're going to feel it more than others. When we have that uniform on, I think we feel it more than others.
"That's a shot Kobe Bryant would hit. To me, AD coming off, just flying to the wing like that, catch-and-shoot with the game on the line in the biggest moment of our season - nothing but net, Mamba shot."
The 27-year-old Davis has been the toast of the matchup, often confounding opposing Nuggets center Nikola Jokic - a superstar in his own right - with a rare combination of size, skill, and athleticism. Davis' game-high 31 points in Game 2 followed up a monster 37 points and 10 rebounds in Game 1.
As a result of Davis' play - along with the contributions of MVP runner-up LeBron James, plus former-All-Stars-turned-role-players Rajon Rondo and Dwight Howard shouldering the Lakers' bench unit - the team now enjoys a commanding 2-0 series lead.
The Nuggets can find some solace in the knowledge that overcoming a 2-0 series deficit is a relative walk in the park compared to coming back from a 3-1 hole, a feat they already accomplished twice this postseason.
However, James' teams have never fallen in a series after taking a 2-0 lead.